AZ 101: Scottsdale Community College's Fighting Artichokes

by Clay Thompson - Jun. 9, 2010 06:57 PMThe Arizona Republic

Today's question:

At a recent high-school graduation party, we were discussing the future of the graduates. Some are headed to Scottsdale Community College. After a quick cheer for the Fighting Artichokes, we began to wonder about the origin of this nickname.Please help us find the meaning of this unique name.

This is kind of a long story.

Scottsdale Community College opened in 1970 on land leased from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

Back then, it was a time of student unrest and campus turmoil across the country. The students wanted - and were given - a strong voice in the college's directions and priorities.

One of those priorities was athletics. The administration had visions of turning SCC into a community-college sports powerhouse.

The students had other ideas - stuff like books and a day-care center. The students wanted something done about the crummy portable classrooms. The administration built an expensive gym instead.

The students wanted 11 scholarships set aside for students from the reservation. The administration wanted the scholarships for athletes.

The SCC constitution was rewritten to diminish the students' voice in how things were done.

In 1972, the administration asked students to pick a mascot for SCC teams. What they were thinking of, I don't know.

Three names went on the ballot: the Scoundrels, the Rutabagas and the Artichokes.

Artichokes won and the honked-off administration voided the election, citing low turnout.

The next year the administration tried again and Artichokes carried the day by a big majority.

Over the years the animosity between the administration and students has dimmed, and the Fighting Artichoke mascot has become a quirky point of pride.